As Colm stepped through the Rift into the Echo, his vision faded to familiar black before shifting to pure white. Almost immediately, he felt the shift in temperature. Snow drifted down in a gentle, steady rhythm as he glanced around, taking in his surroundings.

Echo Detected: Everfrost Ruins

Dismissing the notification with a glance, Colm scanned the area while activating his usual abilities, summoning his phantoms and conjuring the familiar puddles of Tidal Energy at his feet. A satisfied smile crossed his lips as he watched everything materialize, his breath curling in the cold, crisp air.

"Funny enough," he mused, stepping forward and noting how the puddles from Rising Current didn't freeze over. "I wonder if magical water has a different freezing point because it's definitely cold enough in here."

Taking a deep inhale, he let it out slowly, savoring the purity of the atmosphere.

"The air feels so clean here," he murmured, smirking as he glanced at his phantoms. "Hope you three don't mind the cold."

He chuckled as Robin did a mock shiver, exaggerating the motion.

"Well, I'm in no rush right now." Cracking his neck, he rolled his shoulders before adding, "Might as well take a look around, but I won't stray too far. Need my mana back first."

With a casual shrug, he began pacing the immediate vicinity, keeping his bearings and ensuring he didn't wander too far from the entrance. Echoes seemed to follow an unspoken rule—no danger ever came near the entrance.

Why is that? Colm wondered, his thoughts turning to the portal. Is it something about the energy it emits?

His gaze flicked back to the shimmering surface, its deep blue glow casting a faint, pulsing light.

Well, if it comes to it, I can always book it back here and escape if needed.

As he ventured further, he reached the tree line, placing a gloved hand against the rough bark. It feels so surreal… the way the snow glistens on the branches, the crisp bite in the air… He muttered to himself, running his fingers along the textured surface.

He continued forward, stepping lightly through the snow, when a half-buried structure caught his attention. Drawing closer, he brushed away a thin layer of snow from the stone surface, revealing intricate carvings etched into the bricks.

Interesting. He tilted his head, studying the patterns. Kinda reminds me of that mural back in the Lucent Grove… He ran a hand over the markings. Maybe it means something? The thought lingered as he continued his examination, tracing the grooves with his fingertips.

"It looks like a bit of a hint of what's to come," he muttered, his fingers trailing along the stone.

His eyes traced the markings etched into the surface—figures that could only be the Frost Elementals he'd heard about, their forms winding through a labyrinth. At the end of the path, a massive creature with wings loomed over the others.

"Most likely the Frost Wyrm," he mused, running his fingers over the depiction.

Do all Echoes have some kind of foreshadowing? He frowned, stroking his chin. I don't think I noticed anything like this in Dusk Cavern or Twilight Hollow.

"Fascinating," he murmured, continuing along the ruins of the stone structure, searching for more clues. Turning a corner, he followed the labyrinth's path until it stretched beyond the edge—only to find it leading to a dead end. With a shrug, he muttered, "Guess that's all there is to it."

Letting out a sigh, he glanced at his mana reserves. Still have some time to kill. No point in rushing in. I know I can take on the boss at the very least, but if this one's stronger than the last, it might get tricky. Granted, I've gained a lot more levels since then—and hopefully, I'll have a few more by the time I reach it—but still...

He shrugged. No point in unnecessary risks.

Colm sat up from the frozen ruins, stretching slightly as he finished his Meditation. His mana reserves were full once again.

"Looks like I'm topped off," he said aloud to his phantoms. "You three ready?"

They nodded in silent confirmation, falling into formation beside him. Smirking, he rose to his feet.

"Let's go," he said, turning toward the ruins in the distance. A crumbling structure stood ahead, its worn edges barely visible against the icy backdrop. "I'm guessing that's the way forward, at the very least."

With his phantoms in tow, he set off toward the structure, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement. After only a few steps through the thick snow, he let out an exasperated sigh.

"Didn't realize how annoying this would be," he muttered, dramatically pulling his leg free from the snow, only for his foot to sink right back in on the next step. "This… this could be a problem."

His brows furrowed as he tested his footing. The snow's getting deeper—this could slow me down. I'll need to be careful. He continued trudging forward, each step requiring more effort as the cold bit at his legs.

As he finally reached the ruined structure, he placed a hand on its worn frame, tilting his head in thought. "Looks a bit like a worn-down shack," he mused, tracing the frost-covered wood. Rounding the corner, he paused. Just ahead, an archway stood partially buried in snow, leading toward an open path.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Curious, Colm peered through the archway and immediately froze. Miles and miles of ruins stretched ahead, following a narrow path that vanished into the distance as it weaved and turned.

"The hell—" he muttered, stepping back and glancing around the side of the building. Yet, when he looked from outside the archway, he saw nothing but endless snow.

Shaking his head, he let out a dry chuckle. "Fucking magic."

He turned back to the archway, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I don't think I'll ever stop being surprised by things like this," he admitted before stepping forward. "Well, you three, I guess this is the way to go. Make sure we stick together. Robin, hang back a few paces—just in case, got it?"

Robin nodded in understanding. With that, Colm, Carver, and Lance stepped through the archway, while Robin followed shortly after, keeping a healthy distance to provide support should any threats emerge.

Colm crept further into the ruins through the archway, his breath curling in the crisp air. "Yeah," he muttered, scanning his surroundings. "This looks like the maze they mentioned. I can already see it branching off in a few directions."

He chuckled to himself. "Guess I'll go with the tried-and-tested method—hugging the left wall." He ran his fingers along the weathered stone, smirking. "I wonder if that's a known trick here too."

With his direction set, he started forward, keeping his hand practically glued to the left side of the ruined walls. Then, a thought struck him.

Wait.

He stopped, looking up at the wall before him. "The walls aren't that tall," he mused, crouching slightly. "Can I just…"

He pushed off the ground with all his might, launching himself high into the air. As he soared past the maze wall's height, the world shifted—the once-visible ruins vanished in an instant.

Colm's eyes widened mid-ascent. Ah. So that's how they stop people from just jumping over.

Reaching the peak of his jump, he let out a resigned sigh. "Figures," he muttered before gravity took hold. As he fell, the moment he dropped below the maze's threshold, the ruins reappeared, as if they had never disappeared at all.

"Guess there's no easy way around this," he shrugged, turning to his phantoms. "You three ready to trek through this?"

They nodded silently, and together, they pressed onward, following the left wall.

Minutes passed as they wove through the labyrinth, the rhythmic crunch of snow beneath their feet the only sound accompanying them. Then, Colm paused. His ears picked up something—a distant, low hum drifting through the air.

It almost sounds like humming… or maybe the whistling of a gentle snowstorm? It's hard to say.

He eyed his phantoms, sending a silent command for quiet. The hum grew louder, more distinct, as they advanced. There was something unnatural about it—almost mechanical.

It repeats, Colm thought, his brow furrowing. I can hear the dullness in it, like a pattern. It fades for a moment, as if it's catching a breath, then starts up again.

His focus sharpened as he crept forward, his senses on high alert. Turning the next corner, the maze opened into a slightly wider section. In the center lay the remnants of a fountain, its once-grand form now frozen and crumbled, overtaken by ice and time.

But Colm's eyes weren't on the fountain.

Drifting just above it, a crystalline blue presence floated in a slow, deliberate patrolling pattern around the ruins.

His breath hitched.

It's eerily beautiful, he murmured under his breath, captivated by the spectral glow.

Ice Elemental (Level ???)

Analyze (Level 8) has increased to Analyze (Level 9).

"That's nice," Colm noted as he saw Analyze rank up. "Just a bit more, and I should be able to pull more detailed information out of it. That'll be useful."

Shifting his focus back to the Ice Elemental, he recalled what he had been told about the creatures here.

Okay, so this should be the most common monster in this Echo. It's Tier 3—same as the Echo itself—and averages around Level 100.

He glanced at his own status, mentally comparing the numbers. I should be well off with my stats compared to this thing. At least it should be a lot easier than the Frost Wyrm since that was a whole tier higher.

But actually… if this thing is Level 100, then the Wyrm wasn't that much higher level.

A thought struck him. Did breaking free from the Echo weaken it in some way?

He shook his head. No point dwelling on that now.

Refocusing, he observed the Ice Elemental as it patrolled in a methodical, precise loop around the ruined fountain.

"It seems pretty straightforward," he muttered, watching the rhythm of its movements.

But just as he finished that thought, the Ice Elemental's form shifted, its crystalline body darkening into a deeper hue.

Colm's eyes widened as the creature expanded, its form stretching and growing until it loomed over the ruined fountain.

"The hell—?" he muttered.

It was already massive before—probably a head or two taller than me from what I could tell at a distance—but now…

Now it's colossal.

"Did it just get some kind of empowerment buff?" he muttered.

[ Status ]

Name: Colm Arden

Race: Morvyn

Level: 73

Health: 1450 / 1450

Mana: 720 / 720

Strength: 90 (108)

Dexterity: 95 (114)

Intelligence: 120 (144)

Constitution: 121 (145)

Bonded Weapon: Abyssal Ledger (Tier 3, Level 4)

Weapon Ability: Abyssal Lance (Tier 3, Level 4)

Attunement: Tide

Attunement Abilities:

- Rising Current (Level 9)

- Wavebound Surge (Level 5)

Class: Spirit Warden (Tier 5)

Specialization: Resonance

Active Class Abilities:

- Phantom Warrior (Tier 2, Level 3) [Carver]

- Phantom Spearman (Tier 2, Level 2) [Lance]

- Phantom Archer (Tier 2, Level 4) [Robin]

- Empty

- Empty

Passive Class Abilities:

- Lingering Vitality (Tier 2, Level 10)

- Spectral Persistence (Tier 2, Level 1)

- Phantom Sacrifice (Level 10)

- Empty

- Empty

Skills:

- Analyze (Level 9)

- Stealth (Level 7)

- Pain Resistance (Tier 2, Level 1)

- Hardened Skin (Level 10)

- Slash Resistance (Level 7)

- Spear Mastery (Level 10)

- Sprint Mastery (Level 10)

- Poison Resistance (Level 6)

- Stun Resistance (Level 6)

- Dual Wielding (Level 4)

- Infection Resistance (Tier 3, Level 10)

- Heightened Instincts (Level 3)

- Meditation (Tier 2, Level 1)

- Unarmed Combat (Level 7)

- Impact Resistance (Level 10)

Achievements:

- Through the Rift

- Champion of the Lucent Grove

- Bane of the Undead

- Echo Sprinter I

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